Political Science 1020E Lecture 14: Political Science – February 28

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Political Science – February 28,
2017
Populism and the Parties of the Extreme Right: Lecture 14
Populist Extremist Parties
 Austrian Freedom Party
o 1999: 26.9% of the vote
o Joined the Coalition Government of Austria in 2000, large outcry amongst
European countries
o Narrowly lost in the 2016 presidential election (president of Austria does not
hold as much power as in France and America)
 France’s National Front
o 1997: 14.9%, Round 1 – Did not place in top 2
o 2002: beat socialists to enter round 2
o 2012: 13.6%, Round 1
o Leading field for 2017 elections
 The Netherlands – Two Major Populist Parties
o List Pim Fortuyn – 2002: 17%
o Freedom Party – 2010: 15.5%
 Sweden Democrats
o 2010: 5.7%, 20 seats (of 349)
o 2014: 12.9%, 49 seats
What are these parties?
 Not Protest Parties:
o Established bases of support: voter profile (older generations over younger,
more men than women etc.)
o Key issues – Immigration, integration (parties take a sense of ownership over
these issues; skepticism toward these issues)
 Not Catch-All Parties:
o Outperforming Neofacists Parties (not outwardly racist, seen as protecting
citizens rather than keeping away a race)
o They are parties of conviction – limits appeal, creating the parties to be “catch-
all” parties to gain more support
Believes of Populist Extremist Parties
 Reject Principle of Human Equality
o Do not believe in a biological superiority, but rather do not accept the idea of
liberal citizenship
o Nativism, Ethno-nationalism; the country is for those who live there
o Less emphasis on jobs and resources, more on threat to national community  Cultural anxiety – people confronted with ‘more change than they can
handle,’ globalization
o These cause reason to support immigration restrictions
 Embrace Populism
o “The People” as homogeneous – against pluralism; fundamental unity of citizens
as “the people,” don’t consider other political viewpoints to be legitimate
o “The People” as virtuous – against ‘corrupt’ elites, mainstream parties,
representative democracy
 Demonization of media – Donald Trump, ‘I represent the people, get out
of my way,’ attitude, media is corrupt
 Populists want to give the power back to the people that has been taken
away by the ‘corrupt elites’
o “The People” as victim – there are simple solutions to complex problems; elites
don’t want to give solutions to fundam